---
layout: docs
page_title: 'nomad acl bootstrap command reference'
description: |
  The `nomad acl bootstrap` command creates the initial access control list (ACL) token. Nomad generates the token unless you provide a user-generated token.
---

# `nomad acl bootstrap` command reference

The `acl bootstrap` command is used to bootstrap the initial ACL token.

## Usage

```plaintext
nomad acl bootstrap [options]
```

The `acl bootstrap` command can be used in two ways:
- If you provide no arguments it will return a system generated bootstrap token.
- If you would like to provide an operator generated token it is possible to provide the token
using a file `acl bootstrap [path]`. The Token can be read from stdin by setting the path to "-".
Please make sure you secure this token in an appropriate manner as it could be written to your terminal history.

## Options

- `-json` : Output the bootstrap response in JSON format.
- `-t` : Format and display the deployments using a Go template.

## Examples

Bootstrap the initial token without arguments:

```shell-session
$ nomad acl bootstrap
Accessor ID  = 5b7fd453-d3f7-6814-81dc-fcfe6daedea5
Secret ID    = 9184ec35-65d4-9258-61e3-0c066d0a45c5
Name         = Bootstrap Token
Type         = management
Global       = true
Policies     = n/a
Create Time  = 2017-09-11 17:38:10.999089612 +0000 UTC
Create Index = 7
Modify Index = 7
```

Bootstrap the initial token with provided token:

root.token file
```shell-session
2b778dd9-f5f1-6f29-b4b4-9a5fa948757a
```

```shell-session
$ nomad acl bootstrap root.token
Accessor ID  = 5b7fd453-d3f7-6814-81dc-fcfe6daedea5
Secret ID    = 2b778dd9-f5f1-6f29-b4b4-9a5fa948757a
Name         = Bootstrap Token
Type         = management
Global       = true
Policies     = n/a
Create Time  = 2017-09-11 17:38:10.999089612 +0000 UTC
Create Index = 7
Modify Index = 7
```

Bootstrap the initial token with provided token using stdin

```shell-session
$ nomad acl bootstrap -
2b778dd9-f5f1-6f29-b4b4-9a5fa948757a
EOF
Accessor ID  = 5b7fd453-d3f7-6814-81dc-fcfe6daedea5
Secret ID    = 2b778dd9-f5f1-6f29-b4b4-9a5fa948757a
Name         = Bootstrap Token
Type         = management
Global       = true
Policies     = n/a
Create Time  = 2017-09-11 17:38:10.999089612 +0000 UTC
Create Index = 7
Modify Index = 7
```

## General options

@include 'general_options_no_namespace.mdx'
